"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." – Thomas Campbell
Emma G - TEDx Speaker, Singer, and Youth Empowerment coach
Survivor of 10 brain surgeries, and now singing, speaking, and coaching about music and mental & emotional health. ??
Happy Thursday, friends!
This past week has been a whirlwind — equal parts joy, reflection, and heartbreak. I spent the weekend in Iowa with my family for a belated Christmas celebration, introducing my husband to some family members for the first time. I generally only get to see my family once a year for the holiday celebrations, and this time was just like all the others: beautiful, full of love and, well, family.
Safe to say: DJ made quite the impression, and he's been welcomed with open arms.
But Monday brought a different energy. Inauguration Day in DC is always charged, and this year was no exception.
But I’ve been holding onto the idea that our greatest enemy isn't in each other... it's in the actual underlying fear that is our greatest enemy. People rarely wake up wanting to cause harm to one another — we're all just trying to do the best we can for ourselves and our families after all, right? Of course: that looks and feels different for all of us, [and we each have varying interpretations of the concept of loving thy neighbor], but it’s this mindset that inspired the song Who Taught You That?, which I co-wrote with Veronique and performed last week at DC9.
Then Tuesday hit me like a tidal wave. My dear friend Renee Allen passed away. Renee was a force—a connector, a creator, a woman of faith and joy. She was someone who believed in the power of storytelling, prayer, and laughter. And, of course, we'd been meaning to catch up for months - but never got around to it.
Argh.
Which, of course, brought back memories of losing both my surrogate brother and my dad — but it made me reflect on some of the lessons they’ve left behind, so today I thought I'd share some of those lessons with you, in the hope that they resonate and remind you of the beauty in the connections we nurture and the legacies we create.
Lessons from Renee, My Brother, and My Dad
Connection is everything. Renee had this gift for bringing people together. My dad was the same, lighting up every corner of Fiji with his charm and making friends wherever he went. Connection is what gives life meaning—it’s the foundation of everything we do.
There’s power in vulnerability. I’ll never forget the prayer circle Renee led, after one of her podcast/radio show interviews that I had the opportunity to feature in. The episode went so beautifully, so we all decided to grab some food [and margaritas] together, and - as our supper arrived - these incredible women - led by the powerhouse that was Renee - held hands, shared struggles and testimonies, and lifted each other up. It was a reminder that strength is born in our willingness to be seen as we are.
Your voice matters—use it. Renee believed in the power of storytelling. My surrogate brother, larger than life, expressed his love for life through songwriting and laughter. Both of them reminded me to use my voice to create, inspire, and connect.
Celebrate every moment. Each of these people lived life fully and in the moment. Life is too short not to cherish the little things.
Don’t wait to say ‘I love you.’ Renee and I kept planning to meet up, but we never got the chance. My dad lived miles away in Fiji, and I distinctly remember him crying as I boarded the plane back in 2017 - three months before he passed. I told him not to worry; I'd see him again soon. My surrogate brother? He passed far too young at just 20years old. My last text to him was while I was at a concert watching Poison perform "Unskinny Bop" exclaiming how I wished he was there with me.
领英推荐
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: tell the people you love how much they mean to you — today.
Leave the world better than you found it. Each of them left a legacy—Renee through her radio show, my brother through his contagious joy, and my dad through his tireless work as the lead road safety authority teacher in Fiji. Their impact lives on through the lives they touched.
This week, I’m holding onto those lessons and asking myself: How can I honor their legacies in the way I live, love, and create?
What’s Happening This Week
On Patreon: This week’s demo from the vault is a track called "You", a song I wrote at the age of 11, as I was first learning about heartbreak, betrayal, and setting boundaries
Thank you to my newest Patrons: Catherine, Arthur, Carol, and Mandi!)
If you’d like to hear more about these stories, join me over on Patreon for exclusive demos and updates. And if you’ve got an event, workshop, or celebration coming up, I’d love to collaborate. Let’s create something unforgettable.
Thank you for letting me share these stories, friends. I know it's a bit of a yuk subject, but I hope that this message reminds you to lean into the love and learning from life; as opposed to wallowing in sadness.
God only knows; the last thing Renee, my brother or my father would have wanted is for their memory to be a sad one.
So let’s remember to live, love, and create with intention - for every day we wake up is another blessing. Let's not waste it.
Have an amazing day on purpose,
x
Emma G